Sharp rise in ketamine deaths raises serious concerns, says leading Herts researcher
A new study has found a sharp rise in ketamine-related deaths in the UK, prompting calls for greater awareness of the risks and better treatment options.
Dr. John Martin Corkery, Associate Professor in Research at the University of Hertfordshire and a member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), said:
“There is a 20-fold increase as we highlight in our paper. Our paper looks at basically material from coroners in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. It doesn’t capture Scotland, but I’ve taken a look at the Scottish figures for death registrations, and there is again a 20-fold increase from one death in 2014 to 21 recorded in 2024.”
He described this as “absolutely astounding,” adding that it was even more rapid than the growth in cocaine-related deaths over the past 20 years.
The research also highlighted other trends. Dr. Corkery said:
“What’s emerged from this in this paper is the fact that there is a clear link between deprivation and increased risk of death in those areas from ketamine.”
He noted that ketamine users are not just younger people.
“There seems to be an ageing cohort of ketamine users. The average age of death is increasing over time.”
Another important factor is the combination of drugs.
“If ketamine is consumed along with an opiate like heroin or methadone or buprenorphine, and a benzodiazepine, like diazepam, Valium - these are all depressant drugs. They all suppress the central nervous system. So, in combination, one needs to appreciate there’s an increased risk of overdose and perhaps death.”
He warned that awareness of these risks remains low, including among those who may turn to ketamine as a form of self-medication for depression.
While heroin is known to be adulterated with other substances, Dr. Corkery said the same was not yet clearly documented with ketamine. However, he noted that much ketamine is now produced and exported illicitly, with purity not regularly monitored.
On solutions, he stressed the need for a broad, multi-agency approach.
“We need to flag up about the availability of treatment for ketamine dependence as well as treatment for other types of drug dependency and alcohol dependency of course, and to avoid self medication. These are all educational aspects which not only the general public need to take on board, but clinicians who are not used to dealing with overdoses need to be aware.”
While no one reason behind drug use was highlighted, the research takes in factors linked to deprivation, unemployment, housing and mental health.
Dr. Corkery emphasised that access to detailed information from coroners is vital for continuing research.
“The more detailed we can get on death certificates or coming through to the coroners, the much more informed and in depth analysis we can make.”